Tambuwal, Sultan Hail FG At Commissioning Of Sokoto’s National Housing Programme
· As Season of Completion, Impact in Housing Sector moves to Sokoto Emirate
. Primary objective of our administration is to improve living conditions of Nigerians”, says Buhari
· Nigerians will witness more in days to come - Fashola
The progressive train of the Federal Government arrived Sokoto on Tuesday 22, 2022, as President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned 80 housing units completed in the State by the Ministry of Works and Housing under the government’s ongoing National Housing Programme (NHP) across the country.
The commissioning, witnessed by prominent dignitaries and stakeholders in the state, was the sixth of its kind since the government’s Season of Completion and Impact commenced nationwide in the Housing Sector barely a fortnight ago.
Speaking on behalf of his people, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar, whose goodwill message was rendered in Hausa language, praised the Buhari administration, for its untiring commitment to the fulfillment of its mandate of change to Nigerians saying his Emirate would remain grateful to the Federal Government for extending the programme to it.
The Sultan, who was represented by the Ardon Shuni of the Emirate, Alhaji Muhammad Harande II, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the project and also urged all the allottees of the houses in the State to take proper care of them in order to derive the maximum impact intended to be achieved.
In his keynote address at the occasion President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, described the completion of the housing project as a fulfilment of the promise of change his administration made to the people at its inception.
Buhari, who expressed appreciation to the Sokoto State government for the intergovernmental collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing through the provision of the land for the project, described it as “one of the developmental approaches across the levels of government”.
The President was delighted that, through the housing constructions, contracts were given to Micro, Small and Medium enterprises and business men and women were engaged, while skilled and unskilled workers got employment adding that the programme has “unleashed a value chain of economic activities that have made positive impacts in the lives of ordinary Nigerians”.
"These are some of the people our country remains committed to move towards prosperity and away from poverty and we are already reaching them by providing opportunities for employment for those who were hitherto unemployed”, he said.
The President described as, “one of the great leaps” in the fulfilment of promise of change made by his administration, the approval of the allocation of houses to 22 members of the 1994 Super Eagles Team in their various states, in fulfilment of a pledge made to them 28 years ago by the then Federal Government.
In his goodwill message, the Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manir Muhammad DanIya, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, for the construction of the housing estate in Sokoto which he said was “a great effort towards providing affordable houses for Nigerians”.
In his own remarks, Fashola, who was represented by the Director Information and Communication Technology of the Ministry, Mrs. Olayemi Sotomi, stated that Nigerians would witness many more commissioning of completed projects as President Buhari's tenure draws nearer adding that many more projects would soon start to bear fruit.
According to the Minister, the 80 housing units under Phase 1, comprising 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units, have been completed in Sokoto State adding, "In terms of design, this project is the outcome of a national survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to find out the type of houses Nigerians desire”.
He explained that the survey revealed a preference for bungalows in Northern Nigeria and flats in Southern Nigeria, adding that the survey also showed the need for space which, according to him, “is why the one-bedroom units are 60 - 70 square metres and two-bedroom units 76 - 103 square metres while three-bedroom units are110 - 137 square metres”.
Fashola also disclosed that the housing units are offered to the public through the National Housing Portal at https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng/”to ensure that interested buyers are not inhibited by any “artificial obstacle and allocations are made on the basis of those who apply and pay on a first-come- first-served basis”.
The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Chukwunwike Uzo, who was represented by the Federal Zonal Director Housing, North West, Builder Emmanuel Hangeoire, stated that the Ministry was promoting local content in the building construction in line with Executive Orders 3 and 5.
According to Engr. Uzo, at least 1,200 building contractors have been engaged under Phases I, II and III of the housing programme since 2016 and over 14,500 and 50,140 direct and indirect jobs have been created.
“During this period, the Ministry has been undertaking the construction of at least 6,000 housing units at 45 sites out of which 2,465 units have been completed in 34 States and the Federal Capital Territory”.
